Agency shows drop in MRSA infections

LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- Rates of difficult-to-treat infections have dropped substantially but British health officials say they've seen a rise in a type of colitis.

Statistics from the Health Protection Agency show a 30-percent decline in the number of cases for which Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the responsible bacterium in 2007-08 -- 4,438 -- compared to 2006-07 -- 6,383, the Health Insurance and Protection organization said Thursday.

The agency said it was the fourth consecutive decline.

On a quarterly basis, 996 MRSA cases were reported in England during the January-March quarter of 2008, an 11-percent drop from the previous quarter, the organization said.

In 2007, HPA reported 50,392 cases of C. difficile , the leading cause for pseudomembranous colitis, representing a 9-percent drop over 2007, when 55,635 cases were reported. However, January-March 2008 statistics show C. difficile cases rose 6 percent over the previous quarter, 10,586 cases to 9,993 cases.

"We are tackling infections on every front with a relentless focus on cleanliness, best practice guidance on antibiotic prescribing, isolating patients and more infection control staff with more powers to help drive down infection rates," Health Secretary Alan Johnson said.